Lubricating device



May 1935. E. G. GARTIN 2,001,717

LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed June 11, 1931 line"2 -2 of Fig. 1.

Patented May 21, 1935 PATENT OFFICE VLU'BRICATING DEVICE Elmer G. Gartin, Claremont, "N. '11., assignor to Sullivan Machinery Massachusetts Company, a corporation of Application June 11,1931, Serial No. 543,632 18 Claims. (01. 184-55) This invention relates to lubricating devices, and more particularly to improvements in lubrieating devices especiallyadapted to use with pressure fluid motors.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved lubricating device. Another object is to provide an improved pressure fluid operated lubricating device. A further object is to provide an improved lubricating device for pressure fluid motors. Yet another object is to provide an improved lubricating device for a pressure iluid motor of the reciprocating piston type wherein pressure fluctuations occur during running of the motor whereby such pressure fluctuations control the lubricating device to regulate the flow of lubricant to the motor parts. Still another object is to provide an improved lubricating device of the pressure fluid operated type wherein lubricant flow is controlled automatically by unbalanced pressures therein and wherein, in the present instance, such unbalancedpressures are due to the pressure fluctuations in the motive fiuidi'nlet of the pressure fluid motor with which the improved lubricating .device is associated. These and other objects and advantages of this invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the" accompanying drawing there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing,-

Fig.1 is an elevationalview of a hammertype rock drill having embodied therein "the illustrative formoi the improved lubricating device.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on Fig.3, is a developed vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 ofFig. 2.

In this illustrative construction the improved lubricating device generally designated 4 is shown embodied in a hammer type rock drill, although itwill be evident that the improved lubricating device may be incorporated in tools of various other types. In the present instance, the rock drillis of a standard constructionand generally comprises a hammer motor 5 of the pressure fluid operated type, andthis motor includes a cylinder 6 having a cylinder bore 1 in which is reciprocably mounted a hammerpis'ton B of a usual design, adapted to actuate percussively adrill steel 9 a suitably supported within the forward end of the hammermotor. Pressurefiuid is suppliedtothe from theinlet passage 12 through inlet ports 14 and suitable distribution passages (not shown) to the motor cylinder under the control of an automatic fluid distributing valve IS in a well known manner, the distributing valve 15 also controlling the flow of exhaust fluid from the motor cylinder 6. As shown in Fig. 2, the automatic fluid' distributing valve is arranged within avalve chest H5, herein arranged in adjacency and with 'its axis parallel to the axis of thecylinder bore, and the fluid inlet passage in the'motor cylinder extends longitudinally and parallel with the distributing valve axis, as showninFig. 3.

Now referring to the improved lubricating device 4, it will be observed that formed in a lateral boss [1, herein formed integral with the motor cylinder at one side of the valve chest, is a lubricant reservoir [8, herein in the form of a bore extending forwardly substantially beyond the inlet passage !2, as shown in Fig. 3, and this oil reservoir is provided at its lower end with a suitable filler plug it. Also formed in'the motor cylinder and arranged parallel with the inlet passage and oil reservoir intermediate the same is a passage sage it, as shown in Fig. 3, through a restricted passageway 23. In-the present design, the-passageway 22 is of less cross sectional area and of slightly greater length than thepassageway 23.

The mode of operation of the-improved lubrication device will be clearly apparent from'the description given. When the throttle valve 13 is turned into the position shown in Fig. 3, pressure fluid flows through the'hose connection it, past thethrottle valve through passage l2 andports [4 under the control of the automatic distributing valve l5 to the motor cylinder, thereby to effect reciprocation of the hammer piston 8. During running of the hammer motor, it has been found that pressure-fluctuations of substantial'intensity occur withinthemotive fluid inlet passage l2, and by these pressure fluctuations the improved lubricating device is controlled. Bressure fluid flows from the passage l2 through passageway 23 and passageway 22 tothe'upper endof :the lubricant reservoir-l8. Due to the restricted size-of the passageway 22, it is found that the pressure at the upper end of the lubricant reservoir remains substantially constant and substantially greater than the pressure in the passage 'lifiduring running of the hammermotor and that the pressure variations which occur in the passage l2 also occur within the upper end of the passageway 26. As a result, the relatively high substantially constant pressure acting on the lubricant at the upper end of the lubricant reservoir causes, upon each drop in pressure 4 within the motor inlet passage, a small quantity of lubricant to be discharged from the reservoir through passage 20 and passageway 23 to the motive fluid supply passage l2 from which the lubricant is entrained by the pressure fluid flowing through the passage i2 and ports H! to the motor parts to lubricate the latter.

As a result of this invention, it will be noted that an improved lubricating device is provided which is particularly adapted to use with a hammer type rock drill, the lubricating device being of a small compact design attached directly to the side of the motor cylinder. It will further be notedthat by taking advantage of the pressure fluctuations within the motor inlet of the hammer motor, it is possible to operate the improved lubricating device in a simple manner with an extremely simple arrangement of ports and passages, and by eliminating all moving parts. These and other uses and advantages of the improved lubricating device will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lubricating device, the combination with a pressure fluid motor having a fluid inlet passage within which pressure fluctuations occur during running of the motor, of means providing a lubricant reservoir, means forming a passage communicating at its lower end with the lower end of said reservoir and at its upper end with said fluid inlet passage, and means forming a relatively restricted passage connecting said second mentioned passage with the upper end of the lubricant reservoir.

2. In a lubricating device, the combination with a pressure fluid motor having a fluid inlet passage within which pressure fluctuations occur during running of the motor, of means providing a lubricant reservoir, means forming a passage communicating at its lower end with the lower end of the lubricant reservoir, means forming a restricted passageway connecting the upper end of said second mentioned passage with said fluid inlet passage, and means forming a relatively restricted pasageway connecting said second mentioned passage with the upper end of the lubricant reservoir.

3. In a lubricating device, the combination with a pressure fluid motor having a fluid inlet passage within which pressure fluctuations occur during running of the motor, of means providing a lubricant reservoir, means forming a passage communicating at its lower end with the lower end of the lubricant reservoir, means forming a'restricted passageway connecting the upper end of said second mentioned passage with said fluid inlet passage, and means forming a relatively restricted passageway connecting said second mentioned passage with the upper end of the lubricant reservoir, said second mentioned passageway being of less cross sectional area than said first mentioned passageway.

4. In a lubricating device, the combination with a pressure fluid motor having a fluid inlet passage within which pressure fluctuations occur during running of the motor, of means providing a lubricant reservoir arranged adjacent to said fluid supply passage, means forming a passage extending longitudinally between said supply passage and said reservoir and communicating at its lower end with the lower end of said reservoir and at its upper end with the fluid inlet passage, and means forming a passageway connecting said second mentioned passage with the upper end of the lubricant reservoir.

5. In a lubricating device, the combination with a pressure fluid motor having a fluid inlet passage within which pressure fluctuations occur during running of the motor, of means providing a lubricant reservoir arranged in adjacency with said fluid inlet passagaineans forming a passage extending longitudinally intermediate said fluid inlet passage and said reservoir and having a communication adjacent its upper end of relatively small flow area with said fluid inlet passage and a communication at its lower end of relatively larger flow area with the lubricant reservoir, and. means forming a relatively restricted passage connecting said second mentioned passage with the upper end of the lubricant reservoir, the said passages being so proportioned that the pressure fluctuations within the upper end of the reservoir are of less intensity than those in said second mentioned passage.

6. In a lubricating device, the combination with a pressure fluid motor having a fluid inlet passage within which pressure fluctuations occur during running of the motor, of means providing a lubricant reservoir arranged in adjacency with said fluid inlet passage, means forming a passage extending longitudinally intermediate said fluid inlet passage and said reservoir, means forming a relatively restricted passageway connecting the upper end of said second mentioned passage with said fluid inlet passage, and means forming a relatively restricted passage connecting said second mentioned passage with the upper end of the lubricant reservoir, said fourth mentioned passage being of less, cross sectional area than said third mentioned passage.

7. In a lubricating device, the combination with a pressLu'e fluid motor having a fluid inlet passage within which pressure fluctuations occur during running of the motor, of means providing a lubricant reservoir, means forming a passage connecting said fluid inlet passage with the bottom of the reservoir, and means forming a relatively restricted passage connecting said second mentioned passage with the top of the reservoir, said restricted passage constituting the solesource of fluid supply for the top of said reservoir.

8. In a lubricating device, the combination with a pressure fluid motor having a fluid inlet passage within which pressure fluctuations occur during running of the motor, of means providing a lubricant reservoir, means forming a passage, means forming a port connecting said second passage with the bottom of the reservoir, means forming a passageway connecting the upper end of said second passage and the fluid inlet passage, and means forming a relatively restricted passageway connecting the upper end of said second passage. with the top of the reservoir.

9. In a rock drill, the combination with a percit cussive motor comprising a cylinder having pres sure fluctuations therein during running of the motor and a passage for supplying pressure fluid to said motor, of a lubricating device comprising an elongated lubricant reservoir formed in and extending longitudinally in parallel relation with and along and adjacent tothe side of the motor cylinder and having a lubricant therein, the discharge of which from said reservoir to the fluid supply passage isccntrolled by aforesaid pressure fluctuations, and passage means for conducting pressure fluid from said supply passage to said reservoir and for distributing said lubricant from said reservoir to said supply passage including a relatively restricted passage providing a continuousmornmunication of the reservoir with the supply passage, and a separate passage communicating with the lubricant reservoir and through which lubricant is discharged therefrom.

10. In a lubricating device, the combination with a pressure fluid motor having a fluid inlet passage within which pressure fluctuations occur duringrunning of the motor, of means providing an elongated longitudinally extending lubricant reservoir, means forming a passage parallel to said reservoir, means forming a port connecting said second passage with the bottom of the reservoir below thelevel of the lubricant therein,

means forming a passageway connecting said sec- 0nd passage and the fluid inlet passage, and means forming a relatively restricted passageway connecting said second passage with the top of the reservoir above the level of the lubricant, said restricted passageway constituting the sole source of fluid supply for the top of said reservoir.

11. In a rock drill, the combination with a percussive motor including a cylinder having pressure fluctuations therein during running of the motor, of a lubricating device comprising a lubricant reservoir formed in the side of the motor cylinder and having a lubricant therein, the discharge of which from said reservoir is controlled by aforesaid pressure fluctuations, and means forming a lubricant discharge passage having connection at its lowerend with the lower end of the reservoir and near its upper end with the upper end of the reservoir, and means forming a passage connecting the upper end of said first mentioned passage directly with the source of fluctuating pressure for admitting the fluctuating pressure to said first mentioned passage, the connection of said discharge passage with the upper end of the reservoir being so proportioned that the pressure fluctuations within the upper end of the reservoir are of less intensity than those in said first mentioned passage.

12. In a rock drill, the combination with a percussive motor including a cylinder having pressure fluctuations therein during running of the motor, of a lubricating device comprising a lubricant reservoir formed in the side of the motor cylinder and having lubricant therein, the discharge of which lubricantfrom said reservoir is controlled by aforesaid pressure fluctuations, and

means forming a lubricant discharge passage having connection at its lower end with the lower end of the reservoir and near its upper end a smaller connection with the upper end of the reservoir, and means forming a. passage connecting the upper end'of the first mentioned passage directly with the source of fluctuating pressure for admitting the fluctuating pressure to said first mentioned passage, the connection of said discharge passage with the upper end of the reservoir being so proportioned that the pressure fluetuations within the upper end of the reservoir-are of less intensity than those in said discharge passage.

13. In a rock drill, thecombination with a percussive motor includinga cylinder having pressure fluctuations therein during running of the motor and afluid inlet passage, of a lubricating device comprising a lubricant reservoir iormedlin the side of the motor cylindenand having a lubricant therein, the discharge of'which from said reservoir to said inlet passage is controlled by,

aforesaid pressure fluctuations, and means pro viding passages including a passage communicating at its lower end with the lower end of the reservoir andnear its upper end with a relatively restricted passageway communicating with the upper end of the reservoir, said restricted passageway constituting the sole source of fluid supply for the upper end of said reservoir, and a passage for supplying pressure fluid from said inlet pascage to said passage communicating with the lower end ofsaid reservoir.

14. In a rock drill, the combination with a percussive motor including a cylinder having pressure fluctuations therein during running of the motor and a fluid inlet passage, of a lubricating device comprising a lubricant reservoir in the side of the motor cylinder and-having a lubricant therein, the discharge of which from said reservoir to said inlet passage is controlled by aforesaid pressure fluctuations, and means providing passages including a passage parallel to the reservoir and communicating at its lower end with the lower end of the reservoir and near its upper end with a relatively restricted passageway communicating with the upper end of the reservoir, said restricted passageway constituting the sole source of fluid supply for the upper end of said reservoir, and a passage for supplying pressure fluid from said inlet passage to said passage communicating with the lower end of said reservoir.

15. A lubricator adapted for connection to a fluid passage within which pressure fluctuations occur continuously during flow therethrough comprising a casing having a lubricant reservoir therein, a passage in said casing parallel and coextensive with the reservoir and communicating at its lower end with the bottom of the reservoir and also communicating with said fluid passage in which the fluctuations occur, and a relatively restricted passage connecting the upper and of said parallel passage with the upper end of said reservoir and constituting the sole source or fluid supply for the upper end of said reservoir, the pressure fluid flowing from said first mentioned fluid passage through said restricted passage to the upper end of the reservoir and the lubricant discharging from the reservoir upwardly through said parallel passage to said first mentioned passage.

16. A lubricator adapted for connection to a fluid supply within which pressure fluctuations occur continuously during flow therethrough comprising a casing having a lubricant reservoir therein, a passage in said casing parallel and coextensive with the reservoir and communicating at its lower end with the bottom of the reservoir and also communicating with said fluid passage in which the fluctuations occur, and a relatively restricted passage connecting the upper end of said parallel passage with the upper end of said reservoir and constituting the sole source of fluid supply forthe upper end of said reservoir, a second, parallel passage communicating with said fluid supply and through'which the first mentioned parallel-passage communicates with the latter; and a passage connecting the upper end of said first mentioned parallel passage with said second parallel passage, the pressure fluid flowing from said first mentioned parallel passage through said restricted passage to the upper end of the reservoir and the lubricant discharging from the reservoir upwardly through said first mentioned parallel passage to said second mentioned parallel passage, the lubricant discharging from said first parallel passage through said last recited passage to said second parallel passage.

17. A lubricator adapted for connection to a fluid passage within which pressure fluctuations occur continuously during flow therethrough comprising a casing having a lubricant reservoir therein, a passage in said casing parallel and coextensive with the reservoir and communicating continuously through its lower end with the bottom of the reservoir and also communicating with said fluid passage in which the fluctuations occur, and a relatively restricted passage connecting the upper end of said parallel passage'with the upper end of said reservoir and constituting the sole source of fluid supply for the upper end of said reservoir, the pressure fluid flowing from said first mentioned fluid passage through said restricted passage to the upper end of the reservoir and the lubricant discharging from the reservoir upwardly through said parallel passage to said first mentioned passage.

18. A lubricator adapted for connection to a fluid supply within which pressure fluctuations occur continuously during flow therethrough comprising a casing having a lubricant reservoir therein, a passage in said casing parallel and coextensive with the reservoir and communicating continuously through its lower end with the bottom of the reservoir and also communicating with said fluid passage in which the fluctuations occur, and a relatively restricted passage connecting the upper end of said parallel passage with the upper end of said reservoir and constituting the sole source of fluid supply for the upper end of said reservoir, a second parallel passage communicating with said fluid supply and through which the first parallel passage communicates with the latter, and a passage connecting the upper end of said first mentioned parallel passage with said second parallel passage, the pressure fluid flowing from said first mentioned parallel passage through said restricted passage to the upper end of the reservoir and the lubricant discharging from the reservoir upwardly through said first mentioned parallel passage to said second mentioned parallel passage, the lubricant discharging from said first parallel passage through said last-mentioned passage to said second parallel passage.

ELMER G. GARTIN. 

